小説
shōsetsu[ɕo̞ːse̞t͡sɨ]
The English word novel is translated into Japanese as 小説 (shōsetsu).
小説 is a noun used to refer to a work of prose fiction.
Meaning: work of prose fiction (noun)
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
shōsetsu
Did you know?
- In Japanese literature, the 'I-novel' or 私小説 (watakushi shōsetsu) is a unique genre where the author writes a thinly veiled, confession-style autobiography as a work of fiction.
- The characters in 小説 literally translate to 'small narrative' or 'minor story'.
- The term 小説 was adopted from Classical Chinese, where it originally referred to a style of writing that captured the everyday speech and customs of common people.
Examples in context
- この小説は難解だ。This novel is difficult to understand.This sentence is useful for describing a novel that is difficult to understand using 小説.Tatoeba #146936 by KK_kaku_, translation #58469 by CK
- この小説は退屈だ。This novel bores me.This sentence is useful for saying that a novel bores you using 小説.Tatoeba #221152 by tommy__san, translation #58476 by CK
- 彼は毎日小説を読む。He reads a novel every day.This sentence is useful for describing the habit of reading a novel every day using 小説.Tatoeba #99777 by bunbuku, translation #303920 by CK
- Watashi wa jinsei ni tsuite no shōsetsu o kakimasu. (私は人生についての小説を書きます。)I write novels about life.
- Honjitsu yomu shōsetsu wa romansu shōsetsu desu. (本日読む小説はロマンス小説です。)The novel I'm reading today is a romance novel.
- 138 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two siblings are talking about a book in their living room.
- 陽太 Yota陽葵、その小説は面白い？Himari, sono shousetsu wa omoshiroi?Himari, is that novel interesting?
- 陽葵 Himariうん、すごく感動的な小説だよ。Un, sugoku kandouteki na shousetsu da yo.Yeah, it's a very moving novel.
- 陽太 Yota陽葵がそんなに勧めるなら気になるな。Himari ga sonna ni susumeru nara kininaru na.If you recommend it that much, I'm curious.
- 陽葵 Himariぜひ陽太にも読んでほしいな。Zehi Youta ni mo yonde hoshii na.I really want you to read it too, Youta.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “novel” translations and entries 小説, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 小説, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
